POLICE in Coventry are calling on city taxi drivers to help them piece together how a man was found unconscious with serious head injuries in a city street.

The 20-year-old Coventry man was found at about 4am on Monday in Binley Road, Binley, close to the junction with Hipswell Highway.

Police now believe the man, who remains in a serious condition in University Hospital, Walsgrave, had fallen from the back seat of a hackney carriage and are appealing for the taxi driver to come forward.

Sergeant Ferris Hatheson, of Fletcham-stead Highway police station, is keen to build a clear picture of what happened to the injured man on the night.

He said: "The taxi driver did not remain at the scene. However, it is possible he was unaware of the seriousness of the injuries sustained.

"We are appealing for the taxi driver to come forward, as it is likely that the number of other witnesses at that time in the morning will be limited.

"We have got some strong lines of inquiry and we have been in touch with Coventry taxi firms and Coventry City Council's taxi licensing department."

Posters and leaflets are being created, appealing for witnesses.

They will be distributed among city taxi drivers and taxi offices tomorrow in an attempt to get the taxi driver involved to come forward.

It is hoped the maximum number of taxi licence holders can be reached on a Friday night.